Best Aphrodisiac Foods

Romantic Foods & Natural Aphrodisiacs to Set the Mood

Are aphrodisiacs real? Do they really have the power to induce an amorous mood and lift the libido? History and cultures around the world support the idea, but we don’t think you have to be a believer to have fun with romantic foods.

GAYOT’s list of the Best Aphrodisiacs features foods that range from sweet to spicy. Add vanilla to your next culinary concoction to evoke euphoria, chili to really heat up the senses or indulge in some caviar, which isn’t only an amorous delicacy, but it’s also loaded with health benefits.

Read on to explore the erotic foods that trigger excitement and ignite intimacy.

A favorite food of the infamous pleasure-seeker Casanova, caviar has long been associated with extravagance and indulgence, but the high-priced delicacy also offers numerous health benefits that can boost your well-being and libido.

The pearl-shaped sturgeon eggs are packed with zinc and protein, which will give you and your partner a nice boost of energy. Also, the amino acid L-arginine found in caviar increases blood flow and therefore, thought to increase your desire.

Chili peppers score near the top of love’s leaderboard. Their ability to release endorphins can cause a boost in mood and surge in energy as good as a runner’s high. Chili’s heat warms the body from the inside out, and has the potential for sending an urge to tear off clothing.

Capsaicin, the compound that causes chili’s burn, will make the tongue tingle with a need to be kissed and cause lips to swell with desirable plumpness. Most famously, chili was used as a key ingredient in the fortifying chocolate drink the great ruler Montezuma consumed to make his tongue dance and his pulse quicken in preparation for his daily visit to his beautiful concubines.

It’s a chemical thing. The “food of the gods” contains theobromine, a stimulating alkaloid similar to caffeine, as well as phenylethylamine, a stimulant that’s released in the brain when people fall in love. Chocolate also helps the brain produce feel-good serotonin, which plays a part in sexual arousal.

Just be sure to indulge in the dark variety with at least 70% cocoa solids to get chocolate’s many health benefits. If you opt for milk chocolate, it’s just that: milk and sugar with trace amounts of cocoa.

Said to be Cleopatra’s favorite food, figs are sweet purple fruits that are sexy in both appearance and texture.

For obvious reasons, they’ve been a synonym in erotic literature for female sexual organs. One of the most influential writers of the 20th century, D. H. Lawrence, even wrote a poem entitled “Figs” about the “fruit of the female mystery.” To the ancient Greeks, they were “more precious than gold” and many cultures still see them as symbols of fertility.

Perhaps the appearance of the fruit alone serves as an aphrodisiac, but figs also contain magnesium, a mineral needed to produce sex hormones.

This famed superfood is known for its antioxidants, but did you know goji berries can also help with sexual health? Known in China as “happy berries”, the nutrition-packed fruits are used in Chinese medicine to strengthen the adrenal system, believed to be a center of sexual energy. They’re also worked into both savory and sweet dishes and even used as the base of some wines.

Goji berries offer a higher concentration of beta carotene than most fruits and clinical tests have shown their potency for treating metabolic syndrome, a precursor to erectile dysfunction.

Oysters are the mouthwatering mollusks that are universally considered the classic aphrodisiac. And there’s research supporting the notion that these bivalves boost libido: raw oysters are very high in zinc, which raises sperm and testosterone production.

Like some fish, oysters contain omega-3 fatty acids, considered to increase one’s overall well-being and even fight depression. They’re also a source of dopamine, but there’s still no definitive scientific information about oysters’ ability to induce desire. That said, Casanova might disagree. The infamous 18th century womanizer ate 50 raw oysters every day.

It’s been speculated that the forbidden fruit Eve bit into in the Garden of Eden was not an apple, but a juicy pomegranate. Bursting with ruby red seeds when sliced open, pomegranates have long been associated with reproduction and fertility.

In fact, according to Greek mythology, the first pomegranate tree was planted by Aphrodite, the goddess of love, pleasure and procreation. Recent research has validated the fruit’s long-standing association with romance — studies have shown that the pomegranate’s antioxidants increase blood flow and testosterone levels, stimulating arousal and heightening intimacy.

8. Strawberries

Dating back to ancient Roman times, strawberries have always been seen as a romantic fruit. In fact, these luscious berries are the symbol for Venus, the Roman goddess of love. It only makes sense when you consider that they’re naturally heart-shaped and red in hue.

Such a reputation has continued over centuries. Many consider strawberries the Valentine’s Day fruit, making it the perfect romantic dessert to get you in the mood. They’re also packed with Vitamin C, which studies show helps to keep your blood flowing. Plus, strawberries are ideal for dipping into warm, melted chocolate (another known aphrodisiac) and sharing with your partner.

A celebrated aphrodisiac since the times of ancient Rome, the truffle emits an aroma said to be irresistible to the female persuasion — at least to female pigs. Sows are traditionally used to hunt these delicacies, because the animals go after a pheromonal compound in the truffles’ scent called androstenone, which is similar to male sweat.

That’s why this scent also works on humans — although some find it too strong to be appealing, and others can’t smell androstenone at all. However, for most — male or female — the indulgence in a truffle, whether black or white, is among the most alluring (and pricey) culinary experiences in the world.

The Totonac tribe of pre-Columbian Mexico was the first to cultivate the alluring spice of vanilla, and the story that accompanies its origin tells of forbidden love. According to one legend, Princess Xanat fell in love with a mortal, and when she and her lover attempted to run away, they were killed. The first vanilla orchid sprouted from the blood that flowed from the two lovers. When Spanish conquistadors introduced the spice to Europe, its intoxicating fragrance wafted across the land and today it remains a ubiquitous ingredient in everything from perfumes and beauty products to desserts and drinks.

The erotic effects of vanilla have been studied for years, with men showing a particularly strong sensual response. Not only does the smell of vanilla lower stress levels to get you in the mood for love, but it also evokes warmth and euphoria. Don’t believe it? Try some vanilla-infused dessert recipes from one of these sexy cookbooks or light a few vanilla-scented candles while enjoying a hot movie or two and then see what you think.